K2 B3 
opy 1 



"REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD." 



Rev. Dr. BARSTOWS 

HALF-CENTURY 

SERMON. 



''REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD." 



A^ 



Semi-Cenlennial Di.^ 



PREACHED IN THE 

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 

KEENE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, 

July 1, 186S, 

BY THE 

I''' 

AT THE CLOSE OF HIS 

FIFTY YEARS^ PASTORATE. 



J^UBLISHED BY j^IS CHILDREN 



NEW YORK: 
THOMAS WHITTAKER, PUBLISHER AND BOOKSELLER, 
No. 2 Bible House. 
1873- 



■A 



^ Z007. 
1 



^' Re)neniher the dioja of old ; coitsider the years of wain/ e/ener- 
ations ; ask thy father, eind he vill show thee ; thy elders^ and they 
will tell thee.'''' Deut. xxxii. Vin. 

This is part of the song of Moses, whieli he uttered 
in the hearing of all Israel just before he ascended to the 
top of Pisgah, to behold the goodly land, and to die. 

And I avail myself of these words, as a fit introduc- 
tion to what I would say, on this fiftieth anniversary of 
my ministry in this place, I invite you to " remember 
the days of old ; " to " consider " the hundred and thirty- 
four years that have passed, since the first movement for 
the settlement of this town. 

The Proprietors' Book gives the following account 
of the Ijeginning of things in Keene, then called the 
Upper Ashuelot : 

Whereas the committee that have laid out the Home Lotts in 
the towns westward on Ashuelot lliver and Poquaig,* have notified 
all persons that are desirous to take up Lots on the terms and con- 
ditions this Court f has directed, to meet at Concord (Mass.) on 
Wednesday, the 26th instant ; and it being necessary after these 
Lots are drawn, that tlie grantees he assembled, and come into proper 
methods for the settlement of their said Lotts, etc., that after sixty 
persons for each township shall have drawn Lots, and given Bond, 
and paid their rive pounds according to the order of this Court, 
July, 1732, that they forthwith assemble at Concord, and then and 
there chuse Moderator, Proprietor's Clerk, and agree upon Ruls 
and methods for the fulfilment of the respective grants, and to 

* Athol. * f The General Court of Massachusetts. 



make anv furtliev Divisions, and for calling otlier meetings for the 
iiture, and any other matters or things lor the speedy settlement 
of said towns. 

Sent up for concurrence, 

J. (^uiNCY, Speaker, 
Council, June 19th, 17;U. 
Read and concurred, 

J. WiLLAKi), iSec'y. 
21st, consented to, 

J. Bkloiikk, [(?oy.] 

A true co])y Examined pr. Simeon Frost, Deputy ISec^y. 

A true copy Examined p. Samuel Haywood, Proprietorti' Clerk. 

In pursuance of tlie above, on the 26th day of June, 
1734, the General Court's Committee met at the house 
of Mr. Jonathan Bell, Inn-holder in Concord, Mass., in 
order to* admit proprietors into the Upper Township, on 
Ashuelot River. The names of " S'^ Committee are as 
followeth," viz : 

WILLIAM DUDLKV, ESQ.. JOHN CHANDLER, ESQ.. 

EBEXKZKli BAIIUEL, ESQ., MR. SAMTEL ("HANDLER. 

DANIEL El'FS, ESQ., MR. JOHN HODSOX. 

EDWARD GODDARD, ESQ.. MR. ISRAEL WMLLIAMS. 

On tlie (hiy aliove said, the said Plon^''^ Committee 
received as proprietors of the Upper Townslii}) on A.sli- 
uelot River, the persons hereafter named. Said grantees 
received their lots by draught, in order of the numl)er8 
atii.ved hereafter to tlieir names resp.'ctively. Each 
grantee paid five pounds money to the said committee 
upon admittance, except the Minister and the Ministry, 
and School Lots : * 

* Thus it ii]i|ic;ir.s iliat tlic |iii)|iriclcirH |iiii(i tlir( c huiiilred ]ioiuiiln for tlicHC 
l)r('iiiisi'.s. • 



1. 


(^APT. SAMUEL SADEY, 


32. 


2. 


JEREMIAH HALL, 


33. 


3. 


SAMUEL HAYWOOD, 


34. 


4. 


JOHN WITT, 


35. 


5. 


JOSEPH WKKiHT, 


36. 


6. 


JOSEPH FLOOD, 


37. 


7. 


SOLOMON KEES. 


38. 


8. 


JONATHAN MORTON, 


39. 


9. 


THOMAS WEEKS, 


40. 


10. 


ISAAC POWER, 


41. 


11. 


WILLLAM HOATON, 


42. 


12, 


EBENEZER ALLEN, 


43. 


13. 


MINISTER LOT, 


44. 


14. 


DANIEL HAWS, 


45. 


15. 


JOHN HAWKS. 


46. 


16 


PHILEMON CHANDLER, 


47. 


17. 


ROBERT MOOR, 


48. 


18. 


ISRAEL HOW. 


49. 


19. 


WILLIAM WITT, 


50. 


20. 


JONATHAN WHITNEY, 


51. 


21. 


JOSEPH HILL, 


52. 


22. 


WILLIAM PUFFER, 


53 


23 


BARTHOLOMEW JONES, 


54. 


24. 


JOSEPH PRIEST, 


55. 


25. 


JONAS KEES, 


50. 


26. 


WILLIAM SMEED, 


57. 


27. 


JOSEPH HILL, 


58. 


28. 


SCHOOL LOT, 


59. 


29. 


MINISTRY LOT, 


60. 


30. 


EDWARD HALL, 


61. 


31. 


DAVID MOSS, 


62. 




63. STEPHEN 


BLi 



. ISAAC HEATON, 

. DAVID CHANDLER, 

. BENJAMIN WHITNEY, 

. JOSEPH ALLEN, 

. NICHOLAS SPRAKE, JR., 

. ABRAHAM MASTER, 

. NATHAN FAIRBANK, 

. NATHANIEL ROCKWOOD, 

. JOHN CORBETT, 

JOHN GUILD, 

JOSEPH ELLIS, 
. JOHN NIMS, 

JONATHAN SOUTHWICK, 
. ROBERT GREY, 

THOMAS ABBOTT, 
. JOSIAH FISHER, 

JABEZ WARD, 

ISAAC TOMBERLIN, 

JONAS WILSON, 
, EBENEZER WITT, 

AMOS FOSTER, 

DAVID HARWOOD, 

EDWARD TWIST, 

JOHN BURGE, 

EBENEZER MASON, 

DANIEL HOAR. 

ELISHA ROOT, 

MARK FERREY, 

JOSIAH FISHER, 

ELI AS WITT, 

SAMUEL WITT, 
AKE. 



At the time in question, it was supposed that tlie 
valley of the Ashuelot was in Massachusetts, and Gov- 
ernor Belclier, in 1732, recommended to the " Great and 
General Court, that care be taken to settle the ungi*ant- 
ed lands." 

At a general meeting of the Proprietors of the Upper 
Township on the Ashuelot River, on the 18th day of 
September, 1734, held on said Toiovship by adjournment 
from the 27th day of June last past, '' to make arrange- 



ments for laying out roads, and building mills and pro- 
curing surveys of lands preparatory to settlement," it 
was "propounded wlietlier Messrs. Josiali Fisher of Ded- 
liam, Samuel Witt of Marlboro, and Jolni Hawks of 
Deerfield, be a committee to survey the whole of the 
entervail in said Township, etc. ; and that they have 
liberty to Imploy a Sur\ eyor, and Deacon Alexander, of 
Northfield, to assist them. This was voted on the affirm- 
ative:" 

"Voted, that Messrs. Josiah Fisher, Samuel Witt, and 
John Hawks, be a Committee to search and find the V)est 
and most convenient way to travel from the Upper unto 
the Lower Township." ''' 

Among other votes then passed was this : " That this 
meeting be adjourned until the last Wednesday of May 
next, at 12 of the clock on said da}', to be at the dwell- 
ing-house of Mr. Ephraim Jones, Inn-holder, in Con- 
cord," [Mass.] 

Other meetings were held in Concord, Mass., from 
time to time. But on the 30th September, 1736, a 
meeting of the Proj)rietors was opened according to ap- 
pointment, at tlie hf)fise-^of of Joseph Fisher; ])ut was 
immediately removed to the house of Nathan Blake. 
This was pr(>ba))ly the first house that was erected in 
the townsjiij). No person had hitherto attenij)ted to 
winter in the )>lace. Those who came in summer to 
clear tlicij- lands, brouglit tlieir j)rovisi()ns witli them. 
J^ut in tlie summer of 17'')(), at least one house was l>uilt; 
and Xatlian J^lake, Setli Heaton, and William Smeed, 
made ])fe])arations to j)ass the winter in the \vilderness. 
Tlicii- liduse was at tlic lowci- cud oi' Main Street. Mr. 

* 'I'll'- Lower Tiiwhslii]) was aftcrwunis naiiifd Swiur/.ry. 



Blake had a pair of oxen and a horse ; and Mr, Heaton 
also, a horse. They had collected grass in the open 
spots, for the support of these beasts ; and in the early 
part of tlie winter, they employed them in drawing logs 
to the saw-mill, which they had built on Beaver Brook. 
Mr. Blake's horse fell through the ice in Beaver Brook, 
and was drowned. In the beginning of February, their 
provisions were exhausted ; and they sent Mr. Heaton 
to Northfield to procure supplies. But before he left 
Northfield, the snow began to fall ; and when he arrived 
at Winchester, where there were a few families, it had 
become so deep, and covered with so sharp a crust, that 
he was told that " he might as well expect to die in 
Northfield, and rise again in Upper Ashuelot, as to ride 
thither on horseback." He nevertheless attempted it, 
but soon found it impossible to succeed. He then 
directed his course toward Wrentham. Messrs. Blake 
and Smeed soon gave their cattle free access to the hay, 
and on snow-shoes sought the abodes of civilization. 
Early in the Spring they returned, and found the oxen 
near tlie " Branch," below where Mr. Kobmson resides. 
The oxen recognized their owner, and gave signs of 
pleasure, which drew tears from his eyes,'^" 

When only one dwelling-house had ])een erected, the 
settlers were resolved to record God's name among them. 
It was on September 30th, 1736, tha't it was " voted that 
they would build a Meeting-House, at the Upper Town- 
ship on Ashuelot so called, 40 feet long, 20 feet stud, 
and 30 and 5 feet wide ; to underpinn, cov^er, and inclose 
the same, and lay down l^ords for the lower tloor ; and 
to set the same at the south end of the town street, at 

* Viik' Hale's Annals, p. 10. 



8 

the place appointed by the General Court's Committee ; 
and that Messrs. Jei'emiah Hall, Samuel Daniels, Joseph 
Richardson, Stephen Blake, and Josiah Fisher, be a 
Committee to build, or let the same ; and to see that the 
S^ work be completely performed by the 26th day of 
June next." Thus you see that the first settlers of this 
place " could not come into the tabernacle of their house, 
nor go u}) into their bed, until they found out a place 
for the Lord, a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob." 
How different were they from some of their descendants 
and successors; who care not for the House of the Lord, 
nor for the sound of the church-going bell ; nor for the 
exercises of prayer and praise ! 

After five years, (1741) that meeting-house, which 
was at the south end of Main Street, was removed to the 
middle of the street, south-east of where Gen. James 
Wilson's house now stands ; the travel passing on the 
east side of it. 

Li the early pai't of the summer of 1737, and while 
few houses were yet built, it Avas " voted to assess the 
sum of 240 pounds on the Pi'opi'iety, to sui)port the 
preaching of the (xospel in said township, and other 
necessary charges arisen or arising in S'* Propriety." 

It is not known how or \vhen the Rev. Jacob Bacon, 
their first minister, came into the place. But it was 
during the same yetir above mentioned; for in October, 
1737, it was voted "That the worthy Jacol) Bacon 
di'aw the Lotts for the wlude Pi'(^])rit*ty." This was 
at the second division of tlie mead»>w-hind. In the 
course of the same year, he was appointed Proprietors' 
Clerk; and tlie first entries which he made in the Pro- 
prietors' Hook, were in April, 173<s. Mr. Bacon received 
a call to become their ])astor, May r)th, 1738; gave 



9 

an affirmative answer on tlie 5th of August following ; 
and was ordained October IStli of the same year, when 
the church was organized • consisting of nineteen male 
members. It is evident from this, that the church was 
established before the wives of the settlers had come 
hither for a permanent residence in the place. 

The following was the call presented to the Rev. 
Mr. Bacon l:)y the Proprietors' Committee : 

To Mr. Bacon, 
Worthy Sir : 

We the subscribers being chosen a Committee by the 
Proprietors of the U[)per Aslmeh^t, y* fifth day of May Current to 
represent tliem in hvying- tiieir proposals before yourselfe for your 
acceptance of v° work of y' ministry ; which proposals are as fol- 
loweth, (viz.:) First: the Proprietors by a unanimous vote clioose 
yourselfe to be their minister ; and in the second place, voted to give 
towards your settlement in S*^ Township y^ sum of one hundred and 
fifty pounds in Bills of Credit; and in the third place, they voted 
the sum of one hundi"ed and thirty pounds of the Old Tenor, [£32 
10 sterling] according to the present value of it * for your yearly 
salary, for ten years, and then add ten pounds to your yearly salary. 
These, Sir, are the proposals, which we desire yourselfe to take into 
your Consideration, in order to your acceptance ; and humbly Desire 
your answer to us, (who have tlie whole aftair committed to us by 
the Propriety) in a convenient time, that we may know what further 
is necessary to be done in this aftair. 

Sir, We are your humble servants, 
Jerej[iah Hall, ^ 
David Foster, I 
Isaac' Clark, ^ Cornmittee. 
JosiAH Fisher, 
Ekexezer Nims. J 

The Council that orcbiined Mr. Bacon, and organized 
the church, were " The Pastors and Delegates from the 

* It is difficult to tell precisely what was the value of the Old Tenor at 
that date. 



10 

churches of Wrentham, Sunderland, Northfield, and 
Med way, viz. : Rev. Messrs. Messenger, Rand, Doolittle 
and Buckuani." 

The following are the nineteen persons who then 
constituted the church, viz. : 

JEREMIAH HALL, JOSEPH ELLIS, 

DAVID FOSTER, JOSEPH RICHARDSON, 

WILLIAM SMEED, EBENEZER NIMS, 

SETH HEATON. JOSEPH (iUILD, 

iNATHAN BLAKE, EDWARD DALE, 

JOSIAH FISHEI}, SOLOMON RICHARDSON, 

JOSEPH FISHER, ABNER ELLIS, 

JOHN BULLARD, EBENEZER DAY, 
OBADIAH BLAKE. 

David Foster and Josiah Fisher were appointed 
Deacons, at a church-meeting soon after the organization 
of the church. 

The Rev, Mr. Bacon was a gi*aduate of Harvard 
College in ITol. He continued a much-beloved pastor 
of this church, for nearly ten years ; some were added 
to the Lord during his miiustry, but the record was de- 
stroyed, at the time of the burning of the town by the 
Indians. Mr. Bacon was excused from all further obli- 
gation to the people, by an informal vote of the Proprie- 
tors, just before they abandoned the town.""* 

It was on the loth of July, 1745, that the Indians 
began their de])rcdations, by shooting Deacon Josiali 
Fisher, wliilc (hi\ iiig his cow to pasture. Audit soon be- 
came necessary for all tlie settlers to betake themselves 
to the fort, which w as nearly on the site of the residence of 
tlie late Dr. V. (i. Adams. Mrs. ArKeimy and Mr. John 
Billiard were killed April L>ad, 174(;; and Mr. Nathan 

* Tlii.-' vole wiis tuki'M oil tile I'oniiiKin. in tin- liastf of their dciiarture. 



11 

Blake* was carried captive to Canada; and several 
l)uildings were burned. The people spent wretched 
days and nights, still living in tlie fort until tlie spring 
of 1747, wlien it was resolved to abandon the settle- 
ment. This resolution was carried into effect immedi- 
ately: when the Indians set fire to the meeting-house, 
and all the other l)uildings except the mill on Beaver 
Brook, and the house of the miller ; and Mr. Bacon was 
informally dismissed, as above remarked. He afterward 
resided, it is believed, in Old Rowley, Mass. The late 
veneralde Thurston, of Maine, of l)lessed memory, was 
one of his descendants. 

The town was forsaken for about three years. It is 
not known precisely when the settlers returned. But 
application was made April 11th, 1753, to Gov. Ban- 
ning Wentworth, of New Hampshire, to procure a char- 
ter, which charter embraced the original limits of the 
Upper Ashuelot, and a small strip additional on the 
eastern side. Their corporation then received the name 
of Keene.f 

It may not be amiss here, to record the fact, that as 
early as 17-10, there was a contest between Massachusetts 
and New Hampshire, concerning the right of possession 
of the Valley of the Upper Ashuelot. The inhabitants 
settled it as a part of Massachusetts; and when it was 
decided that it belonged to New Hampshire, they pre- 
sented " a petition to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 

* Nathan Blake was the grandfather of Mr. Abel Blake. He remained 
among the Indians about two years, and was held in high estimation as a 
chief. After his return to Keene he lived many years, and died in 1813, in the 
one hundredth year of his age. 

f It is mentioned in Hale's Annals,X\i&t\t is probable Gov. Wentworth 
named the place "Keene' in honor of Sir Benjamin Keene, who was Minister 
from England to Spain, al>out that time. 



12 

tliat they might be annexed to the Province of Massa- 
chusetts." They even appointed Thomas Hutchinson, 
Esq., to present their petition, who went to Enghmd for 
the purpose, but failed of accomplishing the object of 
his agency.* 

The first meeting of the town, under the new charter, 
as KEENE, was in May, 1753. And then the regard of 
the people for religious order was shown by the erection 
of a meeting-house of slabs, on a green spot near to 
where Mr. Robert Stewart now resides. f This was for 
a temporary place of worship, until a more suitable 
house could be l)uilt. And in Decenil)er of the same 
year, it was "voted to l)uil(l a meeting-house 45 feet 
long, and 35 feet wide." It ^vas at tirst resolved to 
place it near to where the Aaron Hall house now 
stands.J But it was finally erected on the south side of 
the Common. § That meeting-house was used till the 
autumn of 178(3 ; when it was taken down, removed to 
the west side of the Common, and set up as the Court- 
House of Cheshire County. Fifty years ago, it was 
familiarly known as the " Old Court-House." This was, 
many years afterward, removed to Washington street; 
and a part of it is now the house of Capt. Pierce. 

But to go ])ack a little, in our history. It was in 
June, 1753, that Keene and the Lower Township on the 
Ashuelot Iliver, (that is, Swanzey) united in giving the 
Rev. Ezra Carpenter, a call to settle in the work of the 
ministry. He was a graduate of Harvard College in 
1720. He had before been settled in the Old Colony, 



* Vide Hale's Annals, |>. 1(5. 

t Apjjletnn House, Main St., opposite Marlhorougli st. 

I Since removed, and given place to Mr. Henry Colony's house. 

§ Nearly upon thr site of tlie Soldiers' .Monument. 



13 

and was a man of higli character. His connection with 
Keene and Swauzey, continued seven years, l)oth 
churches being one, until it was judged expedient for 
Mr. Carpenter to devote all his labors to Swanzey, and 
Keene sought another minister. 

When Mr. Carpenter was installed over Keene and 
Swanzey, Oct. 4th, 1753, there were present, by their 
Elders, etc., the First Church in Hingham, the Third 
Church in Plymouth, the Church in Kingston in the 
County of Plymouth, the First Church in Lancaster, the 
Church in Nichewong, the Church in Poquoiag (Athol), 
the ('hurch in Deertield, the Church in Sunderland, and 
the Church in JN'orthiield.* 

During Mr. Carpenter's ministry, there were 52 l)ap- 
tisms of persons iii Keene, and several were added to 
the church. But the record of the latter is lost. The 
above record of baptisms, was made by the Rev. Edward 
Goddard, " from the old l)ook." 

On June 11th, 1761, the Kev. Clement Sumner was 
ordained Pastor of this church. He was a graduate of 
Yale College in 175S, and his labors continued eleven 
years ; when, in consequence of difficulties, he was dis- 
missed, at his own request, by an ecclesiastical council.f 

* Vide Records of Clmrclies in Swanzey. 

f It may not be uninteresting here to mention, that when Mr. Sumner was 
settled, his salary was fixed at tliirty-five pounds sterling, and his firewood, 
witli an annual increase of one pound ten shillings sterling, until fifteen 
pounds should be added 

And be it here remarked, that his salary was estimated on commodities, 
as follows, viz. : wheat at 'Ss. 2\^d. sterling; pork 3<^. per pound ; beef at 2d. 
per pound ; Indian corn at l.y. 8rf. per bushel ; rye at 2,y. i]d. per bushel ; labor 
at 2s. per day. 

This was rescinded afterward, upon Mr. Sumner's suggesting that the 
article of beef was stated above the market price! What would he have 
thought, had it been stated fts high as it is in 1868, — instead of two pence per 
pound '? 



14 

It was during his ministry, that the practice of " owning 
the covenant," as it was called, and having children 
baptized, was brought into use. Twenty persons thus 
owned the covenant, and seventy-three were added to 
full communion, during his ministry. But we have no 
record of baptisms by him. Mr. Sumner was never set- 
tled again; but he preached for a time in Thetford, Vt., 
and lie died in Keene, March 29th, 1795.* 

The following persons were members of this church 
at its re-organization (1701), under Mr. Sumner, viz.: 

DAVID FOSTER, EBENEZER DAY, 

OBADIAH BLAKE, JONAH FRENCH, 

JOSIAH (UJILD, EPHRAIM DOKMAN, 

SETH HEATON, NATHAN BLAKE, 

MICHAEL METCALF, JOHN SESSIONS, 

EBENEZER NLMS, JOSEPH ELLIS, 

DAVID NIMS, MICHAEL METCALF, J UN. 

Tliat \% fourteen male members. Their Avives had prob- 
al)ly not removed their relation from other churches, on 
account of the unsettled state of tilings. But we tiiid 
that the following persons were received />// letter^ under 
Mr. Sumner, viz.: 

JOHN DAY, EXPERIENCE FISHER, 

ABIEL DAY, THANKFUL WILLARD, 

DEBORAH (RTILD, GIDEON ELLIS, 

THANKFUL HEaTON, URIAH WILSON AND WIFE. 

ELIZABETH BLAKE, SARAH BAKER, 

EBENEZER CLARK, SARAH WYMAN, 

ANNA CLARK, SARAH FOSTER, 

ANNA METCALF, MARY SANGER, 
ELIZABETH SUMNER. 

That is, 4 males and 14 females. 

*Rev. Mr. Suiiiiht was luirii-d in tin- old cciiu'tfry on tin- hanks of Beaver 
Brook ; where his griivc, with those of other wortliy fathers of Keene, has 
been desecrated and for<;:otten. His widow survived him, some 'lT^ years. She 
died about 1820, and was J)uried in West Swanzey. Dr. Barstow preached her 
funeral sermon, soon after his settlenu-nt in Keene. 



15 

And the following were admitted to fnll communion 
by profession, under Mr. Sumner, viz. : 



MERCY ELLIS, 

SAMUEL HOLMES AND WIFE, 

ACHSA HALL, 

WILLIAM WOODS AND WIFE, 

ESTHER GUILD, 

ATBIUAIL STILES, 

TIMOTHY ELLIS, 

ABIGAIL BRIGGS, 

BENJAMIN OSGOOD AND WIFE, 

MRS. BALCH, 

SAMUEL WOOD AND WIFE, 

GIDEON ELLIS, JUN., AND WIFE, 

WILLIAM ELLIS, 

DANIEL KINGSBURY AND WIFE, 

MILLATIAH CONLEY, 

WILLIAM HOW^ARD AND WIFE, 

EBENEZER KILBORN, 

HEPZIBAH DORMAN, 

ELISHA BRIGGS AND WIFE, 

MISS HALL, 

SUSANNAH BALCH, 



ABIGAIL NIMS, 

ELIPHALET CARPENTER, 

MILLATIAH HALL, 

JOSIAH ELLIS AND WIFE, 

ABIJAH METCALF, 

ESTHER BLAKE, 

BENJAMIN ARCHER AND WIFE, 

JEMIMA CLARK, 

PETER HAYWARD AND WIFE, 

SARAH COOKE, 

NATHANIEL KINGSBURY & WIFE, 

HANNAH WHEELER, 

SIMEON CLARK, 

JESSE CLARK AND WIFE, 

REUBEN DANIELS, 

THANKFUL POND, 

JESSE HALL, 

THOMAS W^ILDER AND WIFE, 

ELIZABETH BLAKE, 

JONATHAN ARCHER, 

MARY W^LLARD. 



That is, 23 males and 33 females — or 56 in all. 
And the following "owned the covenant," viz.: 

DR. FRINK* AND WIFE, HULDAH CLARK, 

GIDEON ELLIS, JUN., AND WIFE, MARY WILSON, 
JOSEPH BROWN AND WIFE, REBECCA WOODS, 

SAMUEL WADSWORTH & WIFE, LUTHER BRAGG AND WIFE. 
ISAA(^ ESTY AND WIFE, ABRAHAM WHEELER AND WIFE, 

PHCEBE WADE, ELIZABETH BRAGG, 

MARIA SWAN. 

That is, 7 males and 13 females — or 20 in all. Eleven 
of these were afterward admitted to full communion. 

The Covenant of the church under Mr. Sumner, em- 
braced very nearly the same topics as our present Cove- 
nant. The Articles of Faith were thirteen, expressed in 



* Father of " Polly " Frink. 



16 

pait by the language of the Assembly''s Catliecbism, 
embodying the princii)al doctrines of the Reformation. ; 
and such were probably the original articles of the 
Church at its formation. 

On the 2d of December, 1777, it was voted unani- 
mously: — "To give Mr. Aaron Hall, (who has been 
labouring with us for some time,) a call to settle in the 
work of the ministiy." Mr. Hall oT)jected, " That he 
could not see his way clear to answer their call, unless 
the Church would reject the practice of persons owning 
the Covenant, to have their children baptized." 

At length the church " voted unanimously, to recon- 
sider the vote which permitted persons to offer their 
children in Baptism, who only owned the Covenant ; 
and for the future, not to admit any upon this half-way 
practice^ as it is called." It was also voted at the same 
meeting, " That whosoever belonging to this Chui'ch, 
shall have any objections against either the doctrines or 
conduct of his Pastor^ shall, without dealing with him 
according to the rule given by our Blessed Lord, in 
Matthew 18th, concerning an offending Brother, or re- 
pair to another minister, oi^ an officer in the Civil Law, 
or to any other person, to consult or concert measures 
against his Pastor : that such a conduct shall be looked 
upon as a breach of the order of the Gospel, and accord- 
ingly be proceeded against, in the Church. And the 
same shall be observed in regard to a private Brother." 
What confusion would have been avoided, had all that 
ever belonged to this church, followed this rule of con- 
duct ! 

The difficulty of Avhicli Mr. IL-dl complained, being 
removed, he was ordained tlieir Pastor, Fel). 18th, 1778. 
He was a graduate of Yale College in 1772; received 



17 

his Master's degree in 1775, at Yale, and also at Dart- 
mouth, in 1778. He had a long and happy, ministry ; 
was universally respected, and died lamented, in the 68d 
year of his age, and the 3 7th of his ministry, August 
12th, 1814. During his ministry, 211 were received into 
the church, and 871 were baptized. 

The church consisted of 77 meml)ers when they re- 
newed covenant, after abolishing " the half-way practice," 
preparatory to Mr. Hall's settlement, only five of the ori- 
ginal members being then alive, viz.: David Foster, Seth 
Heaton, David Nims, Obadiah Blake and Nathan Blake. 
When Mr. Hall was ordained, the Rev. Mr. Hibbard 
opened the solemnity by prayer; Rev. Mr. Olcott 
preached ; Rev. Mr. Brighara, of Marlborough, made the 
ordaining prayer ; Rev. Mr. Fessenden, of Walpole, gave 
the charge ; Rev. Mr. Goddard gave the Right Hand of 
Fellowship, and the Rev. Mr. Sprague, of Duldin, closed 
the solemnity by prayer * 

It was during Mr. Hall's ministry, that our present 
meeting-house was built, viz., in the summer of 1786, 
and the two following years. It has since been twice 
remodeled. 

It was no small work to build a meetino;-house in 
those days, when money was scarce and transportation 
difficult. But resolution triumphed over difficulties. 
The inhal)itants were divided into ten classes, and each 
class was assigned to some efficient man, to see that 
his class provided their propoi-tion of materials for the 
building. The pews were sold in anticipation of doing 
the work, and paid for in cattle, at a certain appraise- 

* Mr. Hall's salary was, at first £80, or $266.66 ; and it was increasi.'d from 
year to year, until it reached the amount of $500. 



18 

ment. But those cattle, after being driven to Wrenth- 
am, Boston, or other places, were sold at a great dis- 
count. Besides, the difficulty of procuring lime, glass, 
nails, and other necessary materials, was very great. Be it 
remembered by all the young people of this community, 
as a mark of England's oppression of these colonies, that 
before the declaration of American Independence, the 
colonies were not allowed to manufacture even a hob- 
nail, to say nothing of other manufactures, that so all 
might be dependent upon Old England for supplies. 

The following charges of one of the Building Commit- 
tee, may serve to give some idea of their difficulties, viz : 

"To a journey, in Feb., 1787, to Sutton, Franklin, 
and Boston, to purchase oil, glass, and vane — expense, 
£1 4.V." 

"To a journey down with 97 head of Cattel to 
Wrentham, Dec, 1787; also, to a journey to Providence, 
to buy glass for meeting-house, and expence of keeping 
said Cattel— £5 Ss. 10^/." 

" May, 1788, to a journey down to Providence after the 
glass, and carting glass from Providence to Wrentham, 
also, a journey from Providence to Boston — £0 Ids. Id^ 

The following shows how exceedingly difficult it was 
to procure Lawful money in those times, viz : " January 
19tli, 1787, voted, 1st, to hire one hundred pounds of 
silver money toward finishing the meeting-house ; and 
2d, voted, that Deacon Daniel Kingsbury be appointed 
to procure said money, if j)ossi'hIe.^'' '^ 

After the death of the Rev. Mr. Hull, the Rev. David 

*Tlie heads of the ten classes above- mentiom-d, were: 1. John Iloutrhton; 
2. Cornelius Sturtcvant ; 3. Joseph Blako ; 4. Timothy Ellis; 5. Isaac Billings; 

6. Daniel Guild;?. Nathan Blake; 8. Benjamin Osgood ; 9. ; 

10. James Wright; and the Building Committee were Lieut. Benj. Hall, 



19 

Olipliant (a graduate of Uuion College iu 18(>9,) was in. 
vited to preacli as a candidate for settlement. He came 
in tlie autumn of 1814, about the time of tlie annual 
Thanksgiving. And he was ordained pastor of this 
church, May "24th, 1815. 

There was not a union of the people in the settlement 
of Mr. Oliphant, and a remonstrance against it was pre- 
sented by the minority. Yet the Council proceeded to 
his ordination. Rev. Mr. Dickinson, of Walpole, offered 
the first prayer ; Rev. Mr. Hall, of New Ipswich, preached 
the sermon ; Rev. Mr. Pratt, of Westmoreland, offered the 
ordaining prayer ; Rev. Mr. Ainsworth, of Jaffrey, gave 
the Charge; Rev. Mr. Burge, of West Brattlel)oro', Vt., 
expressed the Fellowship ; and Rev. Mr. Edwards, of 
Andover, Mass., offered the concluding prayer. 

Under the administration of Mr. Oliphant, ninety- 
one were added to the church, and one hundred and 
twenty-nine were baptized. His ministry continued 
scarcely three years. But he made a deep impression 
upon many minds; and he will probably find many 
among this people, as the crown of his rejoicing in the 
day of the Lord Jesus. 

It is unnecessary, here, to recount the difficulties 
which resulted in the dismission of Mr. Oliphant, in the 
autumn of 1817. He was soon settled as Pastor of the 
3d church in Beverly, Mass., where he had a successful 
ministry of sixteen years. He was afterward installed 
over a church in the State of Maine. His present resi- 
dence is Andover, Mass.* 

Dea. Daniel Kingsbury, Major Davis Hewlett, Lieut. Reuben Partridge, Mr. 
Abijali Wilder, Mr. Benj. Archer, and Mr. Thomas Baker. Their records and 
votes are in the hands of the Pastor 
* Mr. Oliphant died in 1873. 



20 

The speaker, a graduate of Yale College in 1813, came 
to tliis place Feb. 26t]i, 1818. He found the people so 
excited by the difficulties which arose concerning Mr. 
Oliphant, that he resolved to leave them, the moment 
that his first engagement had expired. And having been 
invited to another place,* he gave encouragement to 
that people that he would comply with their request, 
when his engagement in Keene had ended, if they were 
at peace among themselves. But such were the leadings 
of Providence, that he was constrained to abide here. 

And he may be allowed to quote from the N. H. 
Sentinel of fifty years since, the following notice : 

" ORDINATION. 

^'- Keene, July Ath, 1818. 

" On Wednesday last (Istinst.), Mr. Zedekiah S. Barstow was 
ordained to tlie Pastoral care of the Church and Congregation in 
this town. The Introductory prayer was made by Kev. Mr. Cooke, 
of Acworth ; sermon by the Rev. Mr. Woodbridge, of Hadley, 
[Mass.], from Titus, 2d, 15th, 'Let no man despise thee;' consecra- 
ting prayer by the Rev. Mr. Fish, of Marlborough ; Charge by Rev. 
Mr. Wood, of Chesterfield ; vVddress to the Cliurch and Congrega- 
tion, by Rev. Ur. Tliayer, of Lancaster [Mass.] ; Riglit Ilantl of 
Fellowship, by the Rev. Mr. Crosby, of Charlestown ; and theCon- 
cluiling |)rayer, by Rev. Mr. Dickinson, of Walpole. l^enediction 
by the Pastor. 

'' In the invitations of the Church and Society, and in all the 
subsequent measures relative to the settlement of Mr. Harstow, there 
has not been a dissenting vote. This harmony of action seems, and 
we trust will ])rove, but the harbinger of a ])li'asant and liap))y life 
to the Pastor, and of his usefulness in promoting the best interests 
of his numerous flock. 

'' The exercises were commenced by tlie choir performing the 
anthcui, ' (lod is our hope and shield,' and c'osed with the anthem 

*'l'()I.stifhl, Muss. 



21 

by Williams, ' O praise tlie Lord,' and the Ilallelujali Chorus by 
Dr. Miller." 



It does not behoove the speaker to say much of him- 
self, or of his manner of life among this people. But he 
has found work in almndance to be done ; has preached 
moi'e than 8500 sermons; has l)een invited to serve on 
202 Ecclesiastical Councils ; has married 560 couples ; 
has performed 115 services at ordinations, installations, 
and dedications^ of which, 48 were the preaching of the 
sermon. 

During this pastorate, 782 members have been added 
to the church, if we include those now propounded; 838 
have been baptized, and many to whom the speaker has 
ministered, are now scattered throughout the Union. 
Wherever he goes in the far West, he is accosted with 
many proofs of kindness and affection, by those who 
were once worshipers here. 

During Mr. Oliphaiit's ministry, our Baptist brethren 
organized a church of 14 members in the west part of 
the town, to which the Rev. Messrs. Hale, Moore and 
Wheeler, successively ministered for a season. This 
church, however, disbanded about the year 1833. The 
Baptist church, now in existence here, was formed July 
22d, 1 832, under the name of the " Union Baptist Church 
of Keene." The title, " Union," however, was soon 
dropped. The majority of its constituent members were 
persons who had withdrawn from the old church. The 
two seem not to have been friendly to each other. But 
the troui>le was soon ended by the extinction of the old 
church. The present church has had 415 members, of 
whom 181 have been added to it by baptism, and its 
present membership is 134. The first pastor was Rev. 



22 

C. Gr. Wheeler, who was ordained Aug. 21st, 1832. He 
remained, however, only about one year. The church 
seems to have had no pastor from Aug., 1833, to October, 
1838. At that time Kev. John Peacock came, and sup- 
plied the pulpit somewhat more than a year. During 
his stay, the house of worship was built. It was dedi- 
cated Sept. 17th, 1839. Rev. Mark Carpenter became 
pastor in April, 1840, and remained until October, 1844. 
Rev. Horace Richardson was ordained pastor May 6th, 
1845, and left in March, 1846. Rev. Gilbert Robbins 
was settled in July, 1846, and remained pastor until 
June, 1857. Rev. Leonard Tracy was pastor from Aug., 
1857, to June, 1863. The Rev. W. N. Clark, the pre 
sent pastor, began to supply the church in Sept., 1853, 
and was ordained, January 14th, 1854. 

The Unitarian Congregational Society, of this place, 
was formed in the spring of 1824, and the church in 
connection with it was constituted Dec. 27th, 1825, con- 
sisting of 13 members. During the ministry of the Rev. 
Thomas Russell Sullivan, 64 were added to the church ; 
during Rev. Abiel Abbott Livermore's ministry, 60; 
and during that of Rev. VV. O. White, 90, making in all, 
220 members. 

Our Methodist l)rethren organized their communion 
in November, 1835, consisting of 30 members. Their 
numbers have greatly increased. At the present time 
they have 185 members, and since their church was first 
estal)lished, 300 have been added. 

Tlie Episcopal and Roman Catholic conmiunions are 
prosperous, but the speaker has not succeeded in ob 
taining their precise satistics. 

During October, 1867, one hundred and twenty-one 
of our members judged it expedient to colonize and form 



23 

another Congregational clinrcli, under the impression 
that they could be more prosperous, than by continuing 
with us. Since that time, numbers have been added to 
their communion, and their present membership is about 
160. But the history of this movement is so recent, 
and so well understood, tliat it is not necessary to enter 
upon it here. 

During the fifty years of this pastorate, what changes 
have been witnessed in Keene ! Fifty years ago, our church 
building stood in the middle of the common, facing Main 
street, and in rear of it was a long row of horse-sheds, be- 
yond which, where now are so many beautiful dwellings, 
there was only a cow pasture. On Eoxbury street, there is 
no house now standing that was then there, except that of 
Mr. Edwards, and a small one-story house beyond. On 
Court Street, upon the west side, were the houses of Mr. 
Prentiss, Mr. Tilden, Mrs. Elijah Parker, and what was 
then called the Old Sun Tavern. And on the east side, the 
house where the Rev. Mr. Karr resides, the house of Mr. 
Dodge, and the house where Deacon A. Wright died. 
All the rest are entirely new. The changes in the other 
streets, are equally great and impressive. And what 
changes have been witnessed among the inhabitants of 
the whole town ! No less than 2,698 have passed to 
"that undiscovered country, from whose bourne no 
traveller returns." Only two* couples now live to- 
gether in the family state, that ^vere so living, fifty years 
since ; and only one couple, in the house where they then 
lived. 

And ^vhat progress has been made during the 
half-century, now closed, in science, literature, com- 

* Alex. Grimes and wife, and Thos. Ellis and wife. 



24 

merce, maiiiifactures and all the arts of life ! What 
a multiplicity of inventions and discoveries; what im. 
provements by the application of steam in the arts; 
in the modes of travelling ; in the circulation of in- 
telligence by tlie press, and by the magnetic tele- 
graph ! The inventor of the magnetic telegraph 
(Morse) an as in college with the speaker. We took pas- 
sage together in the first steamboat that plied the waters 
of Long Island Sound. The first journey of the speaker, 
from New Haven to Keene, occupied three days. It 
now requires but six or seven hours. 

And other things have in an equal ratio, progressed 
throughout the civilized Avorld. What pages of the 
world's strangest history have been written within 
the limits of this pastorate ! When I first came to this 
valley. Napoleon the Great had just finished his wonder- 
ful career, and gone into exile at St. Helena, that rock 
of the ocean, where he died three years afterward. Louis 
XVIII. sat on the throne of France, as the representa- 
tive of the restored house of the Bourbons. Three revo- 
lutions have since occurred in res^ard to that throne. 
Pius VII. wore the Papal Tiara, though degraded by 
Napoleon, and held in less honor than his predecessors. 
George HI. of England still lingered in imbecility in his 
bed-chamber, while the Prince Kegent waited impatient- 
ly for the death of his father, which should give him the 
throne of Great Britain, wdth the title of George IV. 
James Monroe had passed one year of his first term of 
office as President of the United States. Jefferson and 
the elder Adams, Madison and Jay, and their noble com- 
peers, were still alive. Only twenty States then consti- 
tuted our Republic, with scarcely nine millions of in. 
habitants. As many more States have since been added, 



25 

with three times as many millions of square miles ; and 
the population of the repuhlic has been quadrupled ! 
" The West " was then terra incogrrita ; and the vast 
region l)eyoDd the Mississippi, where now the iron horse 
ranges more than 040 miles, was described in the school- 
boy's Atlas, as "unexplored territory." 

Mexico, in the meantime, has passed through eight 
changes of constitutional liberty, anarchy, and misrule. 
And what changes have been wrought in Italy, Austria, 
Prussia, and the Papal States ! 

All, surely, will acknowledge that it has l)een an 
eventful half century ; in that it has revolutionized 
nations ; extended the Scriptures in almost two hundred 
languages and dialects of men ; and opened nearly all 
the nations of the earth, for the introduction of the 
glorious Gospel of the Blessed God ! 

And now, what has the speaker to regret, but that 
he has done so little in comparison with what he ^^dshed 
to do, to bring men to the Saviour, and to give the king- 
dom to the Son of God ! And in closing his ministry, 
he earnestly beseeches all whom he has ever addressed 
on the high concerns of theii' immortal interests, to give 
diligence that they may be found of God in peace. Do, 
now, consider these forcible ^vords of the poet : 

'' Oh ! what is time ? " 



I asked an aged man, a man of cares, 
Wrinkled, and curved, and white with hoary liairs. 
"Time is the warp of life," he said ; "O tell 
The young, the fair, tlie gay, to weave it well ! " 

I asked a dying sinner, ere the stroke 

Of ruthless Deatli, life's golden howl had broke; 

I asked him, " What is time ? " " 7'hne /" he replied, 

" I've lost it ! Ah, the treasure 1 " And he died ! 



26 

With tills discourse, ray dear friends, I close the half 
century of my pastorate. Resigning altogether, herewith, 
the active duties of the ministry, commending you to 
God, and the word of His grace, and committing this 
beloved flock to the care of my much-esteemed successor,* 
I seek that repose ^vhich is due to infirmity and to age- 
not indeed that I shall ever cease to care for your 
welfare, but in no meddlesome mood, when released from 
the absorbing cares of a shepherd of the flock. I little 
thought, Avhen, just fifty years ago this morning, I stood 
up here, a young man, a novice in the ministry, to be set 
apart to the life-service of the Master, that my entire 
ministerial life Avould be passed among the same people, 
and that it would end ^vhere it began, at the close of 
half a century. But God, in His wise and merciful prov- 
idence, has so ordered it. And no^^ , after an experience 
so long and so varied, as shepherd of this flock, the 
same still, though changed by the vicissitudes of nearly 
two generations, having baptized and married parents^ 
and their children, and their grand-children ; I again 
stand before you to-day, to say : 

Beloved Friends, Farewell ! And may the God of 
Peace dwell in you, and bless you evermore ! 

* The Rev. W. S. Karr. 



ORDER OF EXERCISES 

AT 

THE 1st congregational CHURCH, KEENE, N. H., JULY 1, 18(58, 

ON THE OCCASION OP 

THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORDINATION OF THE 

REV. Z. S. BARSTOW, D.D. 



1. ANTHEM, 

Bij the Ciioii;. 

2. INTRODUCTORY PRAYER, 

Jh/ Rev. J. Oucutt, D.D., of N. Y. City. 

3. READING OF THE SCRIPTURES, 

By Prof. Henry E. Parkej:, of Dartmouth College. 

4. PRAYER, 

By Rev. Dr. Bouton, of Concord, JV. II. 

5. PSALM 90, 

" O God ! Our liel}) in ages past," 
By the Choir. 

6. DISCOURSE, 

By Kev. Di:. B.\.rst(>\\ . 

7. CLOSING PRAYER, 

By Rev. W. S. Karr, of Keene. 

8. ANTHEM, 

By tlie Choir. 

9. BENEDICTION, 

By Rev. Mr. Gayloro, of ISFetshua. 



NOTE. 

The exercises at tlie cliurcli, were followed l)y a Public Dinner, 
given to Dr. Barstow, at the Town Hall, Ly the citizens of Keene. 
All denominations were represented at the table ; the attendance 
was very large, and the exercises, consisting of sentiments and 
speeches, were of the most interesting character. It is to be regret- 
ted, that, as the occasion was one so intimately connected with the 
history of the ToAvn, for a period of fifty years, no provision was 
made at the time for securing a complete and a permanent record 
of the proceedings, beyond the brief sketches which appeared in the 
newspapers of the day. 



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